What do you do when your life is falling apart, and you’ve run out of options—can God still meet you there? Is there any hope for those who have failed God repeatedly?

In this final message from our “The Search For A King” series, Pastor Josiah explores the theme of “IF”—those pivotal moments in life that center on trust, obedience, and the faithfulness of God. As Israel stands at a national crossroads, having demanded a king and rebelled against the Lord, Samuel confronts them with their sin, warns them of its consequences, and yet offers them hope rooted in God's steadfast mercy. IF we reject God, we face ruin; but IF we return to Him, He is faithful to forgive us and redeem us from the pit. Through a gospel-centered lens, this sermon shows how our repeated failures can never outmatch God's covenantal grace. Jesus, the true and better King, succeeds where Saul—and all of us—fail. And in Him, we hear the everlasting assurance for every believer: “God’s got you!”

Where is your hope? What types of things are you placing your trust in today? In his sermon, “Is This The King?” centered on 1 Samuel 10:17-11:11, Alex Trotter shared how even though Saul looked like the King who would save Israel from their enemies, ultimately it was Christ who would redeem his people from death and crush the serpent’s head once and for all. Unlike the Israelites, we mustn’t turn to rulers of this world for our ultimate salvation, even despite their apparent victories. Instead, we must turn our eyes to the true Prophet, Priest, and King, Jesus Christ and look to him to save us from the brokenness that surrounds us.

What are you currently desiring or pursuing that might be more shaped by the world’s values than God’s will? Can you identify a time when God used a disappointment or failure to draw you closer to Him? In what ways is Jesus reshaping your desires to want more of Him, rather than just His gifts?

In his sermon “The King You Desire” based on 1 Samuel 9:1-10:16, Pastor Josiah shared how Israel received what they asked for—a king like the nations. Saul looked the part: tall, strong, impressive. But beneath the surface, he was spiritually unfit and directionless. Sometimes, God gives us what we want to reveal that what we long for isn't truly what we need. Yet even in our rebellion, God’s sovereign grace is at work. He uses our misguided desires, our detours, and even our failures to draw us back to Himself. Ultimately, the story of Saul points us to Jesus—the King we didn’t ask for but the one we desperately need. In Him, our desires are transformed to want what He wants—and we discover that the deepest satisfaction of our hearts is not in what we get, but in whom we belong to.

Why do our demands for greater freedom often lead to deeper bondage? What happens when we ask God for what we want instead of trusting Him for what we need? In his sermon, “So, You Want A King?” based on 1 Samuel 8:1-22, Pastor Bryan Catherman explores Israel’s demand for a king and the deeper spiritual rebellion it represents. As the people reject God’s rule in favor of a monarchy like the surrounding nations, we are confronted with a timeless truth: when we choose self-rule over God’s sovereign reign, we inherit the consequences of our own folly. Yet, even in judgment, God’s mercy shines through as He ultimately provides not just any king, but the one King we truly need—Jesus Christ. The message challenges us to consider where we, too, may be exchanging divine kingship for worldly security, and reminds us that only under God's rule do we find true freedom and life.

Why does life sometimes get harder after we repent—and what is God doing in those moments? What does true repentance look like—and what does it lead to? In his sermon, “True Repentance & Divine Deliverance,” centered on 1 Samuel 7:2–17, Pastor Josiah shared how Israel turned from idolatry and returned to the Lord with a repentant heart. Yet, just as they turned back to God, new trouble arose. But God, faithful to His covenant and powerful to save, delivered His people—not because of their strength, but through the intercession of His appointed mediator, Samuel. This passage reminds us that while repentance may invite hardship, it always places us under the care of a God who is faithful to forgive, fights for us, and never fails to be there for us.

Are you tempted to approach God on your own terms rather than according to His will? How does the holiness of God shape your worship, your obedience, and your view of Christ? In today’s message we find out what happens when God's people treat His presence with irreverence! In 1 Samuel 6:1–7:1, both the Philistines and the Israelites dishonor the holy presence of Yahweh—not by defiance alone, but by casual disobedience. In his message, “Who Can Stand?” Pastor Josiah explores how God's holiness is not something to manage, manipulate, or presume upon. Through the tragic actions of Beth-shemesh and the fearful question, “Who is able to stand before this holy God?”, we are brought face-to-face with our own unworthiness and the absolute necessity of a Mediator.

In a world that often reduces God to sentimentality or ritual, this message calls us back to the fear of the Lord—a fear that leads not to fleeing from God, but to obedience under His Word and submission to His final Prophet, Jesus Christ. True life is found in fearing God and obeying His Word through Christ alone.

Are we trying to manipulate God or worship Him? Is God’s presence in your life a source of joy or judgment? In 1 Samuel 5, the Philistines believed they had conquered the God of Israel by capturing the ark, but what unfolds next is a powerful revelation: God cannot be controlled, co-opted, or contained. His hand brings victory over idols, judgment upon His enemies, and—ultimately—redemption through Christ for those who turn to Him in faith. In his sermon, “The Hand of the Lord,” Pastor Josiah unpacks the triumph of God's holiness over Dagon, the terror that falls on the Philistines, and the redemptive hope that shines bright in our lives when we reach out to the One who bore the hand of judgment in our place—Jesus Christ!

Are there areas in your life where you are trusting in religious activity—rather than in God’s Word? What would it look like for your church to lose the presence of God but keep the appearance of faith? In 1 Samuel 4, Israel suffers a devastating defeat—not merely militarily, but spiritually—as the ark of God is captured and His glory departs. Despite having access to the Word of God through the prophet Samuel, the people ignore it and instead place their trust in a sacred object, assuming God's power could be wielded apart from faithful submission. This presumption leads to judgment: the priesthood collapses, the ark is lost, and “Ichabod” is declared—the glory has departed. But the story of Scripture doesn’t end in Ichabod. Through judgment, God prepares the way for restoration. In Christ, the glory returns—not in a box, but in a savior. Emmanuel—God with us—is the name now written over those who receive Him by faith.